Theodore meinhold



(Model) T. MEINHOLD. Harmonica.

No. 240,835. Patented May 3,1881

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE MEINHOLD, OF KLINGENTHAL, SAXONY, GERMANY.

HARMONICA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,835, dated May 3, 1881.

Application filed February 14, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom 1t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE MEINHOLD, of Klingenthal, in the Kingdom of Saxony and Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lVIouth-Organs or Harmonicas, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This my invention relates to the construction of mouth-organs or harmonieas, which is somewhat analogous to the improvements described in Letters Patent No. 207,616, granted to me on September 3, 1878; and it consists, first, in the peculiar construction of the noncorrosive mouth-piece; aud,second,inthemannor of securing the mouth-piece to the reedboard, all as fully hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent edge views of harmonicas having my noncorrosive mouth-pieces attached; and Figs. at, 5, and 6 represent cross-sections of the same.

Like letters in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

A denotes the slotted board, upon which are secured the metallic reed-plates 13. Upon one or both edges, for a single or double harmonica, as the case may be, I secure a mouthpiece, 0, which consists of an oblong plate perforated with as many square, rectangular, or round blow-holes as there are slots in the board A, which holes are at such a distance apart that each will meet and form a continuation of the adjoining slot, making atightj oint therewith. These mouth-plates I make, preferably, of hard rubber and of the form shown. Each mouth-plate has a projecting center, 0, through which the blow-holes are pierced, and a flat or extending portion, 0, on each side of the blow-holes. The lips of the performer cover the central projecting portion, a, and run over the same in playing, while the extended portions 0 keep the lips of the performer from coming in contact with the metal covering of the reeds. The mouth-pieces, it will be seen, extend on each side beyond the reed-boards, so as to be wide enough to eifect the result stated, and also to protect the covering of the reeds. The mouth-pieces are fastened upon the slotted edge of the reed-board A by means of cement or glue, so as to form an absolutely air-tightjoint therewith, and they are further held by screws (I at the end.

The reed-plates B may be protected against injury by sheet-metal plates E in the usual manner, or by glass or wooden guard-plates having sound-holes, and beingjoiuted between the edges of the mouth-plates O, as may be desirable for different qualities of harmonicas.

The advantage of the above device is that a continuouslysmooth mouth-piece is obtained which is non-corrosive, will not coat with poisonous oxides, and therefore always will have a smooth taste to the mouth.

\Vhat 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a moutil-harmonica, the mouthpiece 0, made of non-corrosive material and having projecting center 0 and extended edges 0, such mouth-piece being secured to the slotted reedboard and extending sidewise beyond the reeds, substantially as described and shown.

2. In a mouth-harmonica, the combination, with the slotted reed-board, of the noncorrosive mouth-piece O, secured to the edges of the board by glue or cement and at the ends by screws (7, substantially as described and shown.

THEODORE MEINHOLD.

Witnesses:

EDUARD LAUER, Or'ro MErNI-IoLn. 

